If you’ve ever been confused by True, False, and Not Given in the IELTS Reading test, you’re not alone, especially when it comes to True vs Not Given. These two answers are often the hardest to tell apart, but don’t worry. In this post, you’ll learn how to tell True from Not Given in IELTS Reading, with simple rules and examples to help you get it right every time.
✅ What Does True Mean?
In the IELTS Reading test, a statement is True when:
- All parts of the statement match the passage exactly.
- There is clear evidence in the text to support it.
- No part of the statement is missing or incorrect.
❓ What Does Not Given Mean?
A statement is Not Given when:
- The information is not mentioned in the passage at all, or
- Some of it is mentioned, but key details are missing, and there is no contradiction.
🎯 Watch out for these before you put True or Not Given
Now that you know what each answer means, let’s talk about how to tell the difference between True and Not Given in the IELTS Reading section.
Your Assumptions
One of the biggest mistakes IELTS test-takers make is assuming things that aren’t directly stated in the passage.
📘 Example from a Reading Passage:
Text (The History of Coffee)
Coffee is believed to have been discovered in Ethiopia in the 9th century when a goat herder noticed his animals becoming unusually energetic after eating berries from a certain tree. From there, coffee spread to the Middle East, particularly Yemen, where it was first cultivated and brewed as a drink.
Statement: Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder, and he spread it to the Middle East where it was sold.
👉 Answer: Not Given
Why? The passage tells us who discovered coffee and where it spread, but it doesn’t say the herder was the one who spread it or that it was sold. That information is missing, and assuming it makes the answer incorrect.
🧠 IELTS Reading Tip: If you’re filling in the blanks with your own ideas, it’s probably Not Given.
Generalizations: All, Most, Always, etc.
Words like all, most, or always can make a statement seem stronger than what the passage actually says. If the text doesn’t clearly support such a generalisation, the answer is likely Not Given.
📘 Example:
Text: There are more than 1000 islands in the region. The weather here is believed to be suitable for white lions to live.
Statement: All of the islands are habitable to white lions.
👉 Answer: Not Given
The passage says the weather is suitable, but it doesn’t say all of the islands are habitable. That detail is not stated, so the answer is Not Given, even if the statement feels close to the truth.
📝 Summary: IELTS Reading True vs Not Given
| Situation | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| Statement fully matches the text | ✅ True |
| Some or all info is missing, with no contradiction | ❓ Not Given |
| You assumed something not directly stated | ❓ Not Given |
| Generalising word is not supported by the passage | ❓ Not Given |
🔚 Final Advice
To succeed with IELTS Reading True vs Not Given, remember to:
- Stay close to the text — don’t add extra meaning.
- Look for full confirmation before choosing True.
- Don’t assume or guess what the passage might mean.
With practice, you’ll get better at spotting the difference and answering more questions correctly.
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